CVE-2017-10970 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in link.php in Cacti 1.1.12 allows remote anonymous users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter, related to the die_html_input_error function in lib/html_validate.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10970 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Cacti network monitoring platform version 1.1.12. This security weakness resides in the link.php script and specifically affects remote anonymous users who can exploit the vulnerability without authentication. The flaw manifests through the id parameter which is processed through the die_html_input_error function located in lib/html_validate.php, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a classic XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Cacti application's error handling mechanism. When the die_html_input_error function processes user-supplied input through the id parameter, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before rendering it in the web interface. This failure allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's HTML validation layer, where input validation should occur but instead permits malicious payloads to pass through unfiltered. The attack vector operates through the web interface where the vulnerable script processes parameters and displays them without proper security measures, creating a persistent XSS condition that can be exploited by any remote user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. Remote anonymous users can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the security of legitimate users who interact with the Cacti interface, particularly those who may be authenticated or have elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Cacti is deployed without proper network segmentation or additional security controls. Organizations relying on Cacti for network monitoring face significant risk as attackers can use this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to monitoring data, potentially disrupting network operations and exposing sensitive infrastructure information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10970 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Cacti version to the latest stable release that addresses the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly in error handling functions where this vulnerability manifests. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution from unauthorized sources. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the Cacti interface to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter values and malformed input patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code review of input validation routines and error handling mechanisms to prevent similar issues from emerging in other parts of the application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify and address potential XSS vulnerabilities in their monitoring infrastructure.